Common use of Action Research Clause in Contracts

Action Research. One of LIFT II’s key outcomes is to expand the evidence base for ES/L/FS programming impacts on health and nutrition. Because LIFT II is not funded or structured to carry out the kind of implementation normally associated with impact evaluations (e.g., implementation with a specific sample of beneficiaries in a given area, matched with a counterfactual) the project will instead focus on building the evidence base through action research. Similar to operations research, LIFT II’s idea of action research will use emerging lessons learned from referral systems as cases for operations research. For example, if LIFT II learns that one referral system greatly benefited from an early intervention to improve gender equity in programming, then LIFT II will work to integrate that intervention in future referral networks. Please see the section on Building the Evidence Base for NACS – ES/L/FS Linkages Activities in the work plan. In contrast to implementing projects with a clearly defined geographic impact area and timeline, LIFT II must operate with more flexibility. For this reason, LIFT II does not present a particular set of Intermediate Results (IRs) and Sub-Intermediate Results (Sub-IRs) which together contribute to the achievement of a Strategic Objective (SO). Rather, LIFT II uses the seven activity pillars presented above in lieu of the Sub-IR🡪IR🡪SO framework common to most USAID multi-year assistance program or bilateral PMPs. LIFT II can support a particular Mission’s focus on one or many IRs/SOs and accommodate those efforts at the country level. Those accommodations will be reflected in the country-level PMP and approved by the Mission. For the purposes of global-level reporting, LIFT II requires certain key indicators (noted in the PIRS below) to be included so they may roll up to the global level.

Action Research. One of LIFT II’s key outcomes is to expand the evidence base for ES/L/FS programming impacts on health and nutrition. Because LIFT II is not funded or structured to carry out the kind of implementation normally associated with impact evaluations (e.g., implementation with a specific sample of beneficiaries in a given area, matched with a counterfactual) the project will instead focus on building the evidence base through action research. Similar to operations research, LIFT II’s idea of action research will use emerging lessons learned from referral systems as cases for operations research. For example, if LIFT II learns that one referral system greatly benefited from an early intervention to improve gender equity in programming, then LIFT II will work to integrate that intervention in future referral networks. Please see the section on Building the Evidence Base for NACS – ES/L/FS Linkages Activities in the work plan. In contrast to implementing projects with a clearly defined geographic impact area and timeline, LIFT II must operate with more flexibility. For this reason, LIFT II does not present a particular set of Intermediate Results (IRs) and Sub-Intermediate Results (Sub-IRs) which together contribute to the achievement of a Strategic Objective (SO). Rather, LIFT II uses the seven activity pillars presented above in lieu of the Sub-IR🡪IR🡪SIRIRSO O framework common to most USAID multi-year assistance program or bilateral PMPs. LIFT II can support a particular Mission’s focus on one or many IRs/SOs and accommodate those efforts at the country level. Those accommodations will be reflected in the country-level PMP and approved by the Mission. For the purposes of global-level reporting, LIFT II requires certain key indicators (noted in the PIRS below) to be included so they may roll up to the global level.